Okay guys! You're getting chapter three a little early today because I'm headed out to the beach for the day and don't know what time I'll be back. Enjoy. Oh, and just to make things easier, anytime something is italicized and in "quotes", like a lot of text -not just one or two words- that just means that it's someone singing. Nine times out of ten it specifies that, but occasionally, because of the way I write, it doesn't. So there's a heads up on that.

Enjoy!

o*o*o*o*o
Music is the universal language.
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
o*o*o*o*o

Logan tries to clear his brain and focus on the book he's reading. He and Kendall had avoided singing to one other since their random outburst yesterday. They'd gone to the documentary and, while Lucy had been bummed out that Kendall had canceled their—was it supposed to have been a date? Logan wasn't even sure—she hadn't been mad. Everything seems to have returned to normal, but Logan had declined going to the pool with his other three friends. Too much was going on in his head and he'd hoped that a good book would be a perfect distraction.

It wasn't working very well.

Instead of focusing on Einstein's theory of relativity, all he can think about is his fortune from two nights ago. All he can think about is being tangled and fate and their singing. And on the fact that Kendall had insisted on accompanying him to the documentary even though everyone who knew the blonde boy knew that it was the last thing he'd really want to do.

Kendall had been doing things like that for years for Logan.

All he can think about it all the times Kendall has blown off other plans to do something far less interesting with the genius. He remembers the sneers of their Minnesota classmates. And he remembers the terror mixed with elation he'd felt that one time…

Slowly, Kendall starts leaning over the smaller boy. Logan can feel the blonde's breath hit his face and it actually hurts, how badly he wants to decrease the distance between them. He watches as Kendall licks his lips and knows the other boy feels the same way…

Logan shakes his head, refusing to get caught up in the memory. That kind of closeness, the kind that the genius aches for, he can't have it. He won't do that to Kendall. Not after…Logan shakes his head. He just won't. Regardless of how he feels about his blonde best friend, Logan won't act on it. Won't give in to the incessant need to be as close to taller boy as possible. He won't give in to the urge to see if the boy's lips feel half as good against his own as he imagines they would. No matter how much his entire being begs for him to give in and try it, just once, he won't.

He won't do that to Kendall. He can't.

It's why he doesn't ask Kendall to hang out anymore. It's why when they split into pairs of two he always makes sure he's with Carlos or James. It's why he tries to be as not close to his best friend as he can without hurting the other boy's feelings. It doesn't always work, as yesterday's day out goes to show, but it never stops the genius from trying.

Because as much as Logan Mitchell tries to stay away from Kendall Knight (for the blonde's own good), he gets the feeling he'll never be able to completely get away.

-0-

"Hey guys."

The three members of Big Time Rush who are currently lounging around the pool all look up to see Lucy standing next to the pool chair that Kendall is currently occupying.

"Hey Lucy." They greet in unison.

The rocker chick sits in the empty pool chair next to Kendall, the one that's usually reserved for Logan. "So Kendall," the rocker directs her attention completely on the blonde and James and Carlos both go back to their magazines (Cuda Monthly and Helmets! respectively), already knowing the nature of the older girl's mission. "We didn't get to that horror movie the other day."

Kendall nods, looking sheepish. "Yeah, sorry about that. But Logan loves documentaries and I know he secretly hates going to see them alone."

Lucy shrugs. "It's no big. Maybe we can go tonight instead?"

The blonde shrugs too. "Sure why n-" And then he's singing, drawing the attention of everyone in the pool.

"Disaster was ready to be unleashed."

Lucy blinks in shock, not sure how to respond to that. "Uh…"

-0-

Logan slams his book shut and sighs. He's just not in the right state of mind to be trying to deal with Einstein. Katie walks in and smiles. "Hey, what's up?"

The genius shakes his head. "Nothing." He holds up the book. "I was attempting to read. But I can't really get into it."

Katie glances at the title and makes a face. "Who could possibly get into that?"

He chuckles. "Well you know me. I usually devour this kind of stuff." The now twelve-year-old girl nods in agreement. "But I just can't concentrate today. Too much stuff on my mind."

She goes to the fridge and pulls out two bottles of water, handing one to the older boy. "Like what?"

He shrugs. "I wish I could explain it…"

Katie shrugs and is about to turn back to go her room when Logan suddenly launches himself up and over the back of the orange couch. She watches with wide eyes as he scrambles to the window and looks down where he can just see Lucy talking to Kendall. He feels a twinge in his chest and before he can stop himself he's singing.

"Look out, look out, look out, look out, I'm crashing."

"Logan? What the-"

"Look out, look out, look out, look out," he sings, not realizing that down by the pool Kendall is singing with him, "two worlds collide again. A twenty four story love affair."

Katie raises an eyebrow at the boy who has become like another older brother to her. "Uh…"

-0-

Kendall's eyes are drawn to the window of 2J that overlooks the pool. He can just make out Logan, standing in the window and watching him intensely. Kendall meets his friend's gaze, almost completely unaware of the group of people surrounding him.

"With me down here and you up there."

"Oh-kay…" Lucy looks to James and Carlos for an explanation. The pretty boy and his helmet wearing best friend both shrug, clearly indicating that they have no idea what's going on. "What was that?"

Kendall shrugs, still unable to tear his gaze away from Logan's. "I have no idea. It won't stop, whatever it is?"

Lucy raises an eyebrow. "You're just bursting into song for no apparent reason."

The blonde nods, still looking up. "Pretty much."

"O-kay, whatever." Lucy shakes her head, the four boys are great friends, and she feels like Kendall would be a great boyfriend, but she's also learned that sometimes they can all be a little weird. She figures this is one of those times. "About that horror movie."

Logan is the first of the two boys to break eye contact; Kendall feels absolutely no inclination to move his gaze from his bookworm of a best friend. He can't be sure, because it's hard to see Logan clearly from two stories down, but it looks like it takes a lot of effort for the smaller boy to tear himself away from the window. Kendall frowns at the sense of loss that invades him as the genius disappears from his sight. He finally turns back to face Lucy. "How about we go tomorrow?" He suggests. "We can hit the matinee and maybe grab lunch before hand?"

Lucy smiles. "Sounds great." Her cell phone beeps a few minutes later and she pulls it out, reading it quickly before standing up. "Well I gotta split. I'll text you later with movie times?"

Kendall nods. "Sounds like a plan."

All three boys wave to her as she disappears into the lobby. James and Carlos waste no time in congratulating him with pats on the back. "You guys don't care?" He asks, sounding confused. "You forbid me from talking to her when she first moved it."

"Yeah," Carlos shrugs. "But that was just so we would have a chance."

James nods. "We had a chance and for some reason she chose you over this." He does his "the face" hand motion that the boys have seen a million times before. "So go and have fun, buddy."

The blonde nods. It's been a while since he's done anything date-like. It'll be fun he tells himself. He likes Lucy, or at least he's pretty sure he does. She's pretty, smart, fun to hang out with, and tough enough to keep up with whatever plan Kendall pulls them all into. There's no reason for him not to want to go out with her. No reason at all.

At least, that's what he tries to convince himself, despite the odd tug that keeps pulling his gaze to the now empty window of apartment 2J.

And there's chapter three! I hope you guys are enjoying this story so far! Also, the song used is 24 Story Love Affair by Faber Drive. Don't forget to review. They keep me encouraged to continue posting.